Learning Risk Management in Forex – A Step-by-Step ApproachAlthough I traded since 2004, but I actually started my trading learning journey in 2022. All what I did before was a waste of time.
I did another mistake in 2022. I wanted to teach myself technical analysis, and come up with a trading methodology that was suitable for me. That in itself is not a mistake, but starting with that aspect of trading was my mistake.
I realized that the first step should have been how to learn risk management in Forex trading.
As I continue my forex trading journey, I’ve realized that risk management is not just an add-on to a strategy—it’s the foundation of long-term survival. I’m sharing what I’m learning in the hopes that it helps others who are also figuring things out.
Here are a few key lessons I’ve come across:
Set a Fixed Risk Per Trade – Many experienced traders risk no more than 1 to 2 percent of their capital per trade. I’ve started applying this to keep losses manageable.
Define a Clear Stop-Loss Level – I used to place stops based on random numbers, but now I focus on market structure instead. This has made a difference in protecting my trades.
Use a Favorable Reward-to-Risk Ratio – I’ve been experimenting with a 1:2 ratio, meaning I aim for at least twice the reward compared to the risk. It helps keep my winners bigger than my losses.
Adjust Lot Size Based on Risk – This is something I’m paying more attention to. Calculating lot size based on risk per trade and stop-loss distance keeps things consistent.
Avoid Emotional Decision-Making – Sticking to a plan is harder than it sounds, but I’m learning that discipline is just as important as technical analysis.
I will write more about this and go deeper in each part of Forex trading risk management until I reach a level where I find myself set on my risk management plan.
I'm documenting more of my trading journey on my profile—feel free to check it out if you're interested.
How do you approach risk management in your trading? Let’s discuss in the comments.
Community ideas
AI crypto’s ultimate security shield or its biggest threat?Hello and greetings to all the crypto enthusiasts,✌
Reading this educational material will require approximately 3 minutes of your time . For your convenience, I have summarized the key points in 3 concise lines at the end . I trust this information will prove to be insightful and valuable in enhancing your understanding of market and Bitcoin.
Personal Insight & Technical Analysis of Bitcoin:
📉 Bitcoin's price is nearing a crucial support level. If this level breaks, we could see at least an 8% decline, with the main downside target set at $87,000. The market’s reaction will be key to short-term price movements.
🚨 Bybit Faces a Massive $1.5 Billion Hack, Triggering a $5.5 Billion Capital Outflow 💸
Bybit, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has recently suffered a catastrophic security breach , resulting in the theft of approximately $1.5 billion💰. The aftermath of this incident has led to a staggering $5.5 billion in total capital outflows 📉, as panicked investors rush to withdraw their funds. In response, Bybit is actively seeking emergency liquidity through loans 🏦 to fulfill withdrawal requests and has developed new software aimed at accessing frozen assets.
The attack, reportedly linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, marks one of the largest heists in cryptocurrency history 🚨. During this exploit, Bybit’s cold wallet—primarily holding Ethereum—was compromised, leading to substantial losses. Data from DeFiLlama 📊 indicates that Bybit-associated wallets saw their total assets plummet from approximately $16.9 billion to $11.2 billion following the breach. The exchange is currently conducting an internal investigation🕵️ to pinpoint the exact vulnerabilities that led to this unprecedented event.
👨💼 Bybit CEO’s Response and Emergency Measures
In a recent X (formerly Twitter) Spaces session🎙️, Bybit’s CEO, Ben Zhou, addressed the crisis, explaining that the company had immediately mobilized its team to process withdrawal requests and respond to user concerns. Zhou revealed that approximately 70% of customers' Ethereum holdings were lost in the attack, forcing Bybit to seek urgent loans to cover withdrawal demands.
However, he clarified that Ethereum was not the most withdrawn asset—instead, the majority of users opted to withdraw stable coins 💵, likely seeking a safer alternative amid uncertainty. Bybit has assured affected users that they will be fully compensated ✅, reinforcing the exchange’s commitment to customer protection despite the severity of the incident.
This event is now being regarded as the largest crypto theft in history ⏳, and potentially one of the most significant financial cybercrimes ever recorded.
🌍 The Broader Impact on the Cryptocurrency Market
The implications of such an attack extend far beyond Bybit itself. The erosion of investor confidence in cryptocurrency exchanges and blockchain security is a primary concern. Repeated breaches of this scale could deter both retail and institutional investors 📉, prompting increased regulatory scrutiny 🏛️ and possibly slowing the adoption of digital assets.
This raises an even more pressing question: What does the future hold for cybersecurity in the crypto space?🤔
🤖 The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Crypto: Savior or Threat?
While blockchain technology has long been touted as highly secure, the rise of sophisticated hacking techniques—potentially augmented by AI🧠—presents new challenges. This leads to some thought-provoking questions:
Could AI become a powerful tool for cybercriminals, making crypto networks more vulnerable than ever?
⚡At its peak capability, could AI potentially hack and dismantle the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem in an instant?
🛡️ Or, conversely, will AI evolve into an unparalleled security mechanism, capable of preventing such breaches altogether?
These are the questions that have been keeping me, as the writer, awake at night 🌙—questions without definitive answers. However, I have gathered some insights 📚 that may help illuminate the discussion.
📈 AI’s Expanding Role in Cryptocurrency Markets 💡
Artificial Intelligence is already playing a transformative role in cryptocurrency trading and security 🔄. Advanced AI-driven algorithms 🖥️ can analyze vast amounts of market data, identify trading patterns, and generate buy/sell signals with unprecedented accuracy 📊. This technology is increasingly assisting traders in making data-driven decisions, optimizing portfolio performance, and mitigating risks ⚖️.
Beyond trading, AI has limitless applications in the crypto industry 🚀. From automated fraud detection to risk management, AI-driven systems can continuously monitor blockchain transactions, identify suspicious activity, and enhance market transparency. AI can also be leveraged to optimize investment portfolios 📈 based on specific financial goals and risk tolerance.
⚔️ The Double-Edged Sword of AI in Crypto Security
While AI presents enormous potential for strengthening crypto security🛡️, it also introduces new existential risks. As AI continues to evolve, it could become powerful enough to exploit vulnerabilities at an unprecedented scale🚨, potentially threatening the very foundations of blockchain security.
Ultimately, only time will provide the answers⏳ to these pressing questions.
🌟 Will AI emerge as the ultimate protector of decentralized finance?
💥 Or will it become the very force that brings about its downfall?
The future of cryptocurrency security remains uncertain, but one thing is clear—the integration of AI into the crypto world is inevitable, and its consequences will shape the industry for years to come.
However , this analysis should be seen as a personal viewpoint, not as financial advice ⚠️. The crypto market carries high risks 📉, so always conduct your own research before making investment decisions. That being said, please take note of the disclaimer section at the bottom of each post for further details 📜✅.
🧨 Our team's main opinion is: 🧨
🚨 Bitcoin is at a critical support level—if it breaks, we could see an 8% drop, targeting GETTEX:87K 📉. Meanwhile, Bybit got hacked for $1.5B, triggering $5.5B in withdrawals, with 70% of customer ETH lost, but they promise to compensate users. Now the big question—will AI be crypto’s ultimate security shield or its biggest threat ?
Give me some energy !!
✨We invest countless hours researching opportunities and crafting valuable ideas. Your support means the world to us! If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comment box.
Cheers, Mad Whale. 🐋
How to Count Weekly Waves Using RSI5A valid corrective wave occurs when:
- ABCDE
- ABC (A > C)
Using RSI 5 to count and filter noise: A wave is considered corrective when a reversal candle appears, and the next candle moves in the opposite direction or shows little movement. If the following candle continues in the previous direction and breaks the prior high/low immediately, it is still considered a continuation of the previous wave.
Tokenomics: How to avoid scams and fake projects?I've decided to write about the scams, Ponzi schemes, and fake projects in the crypto industry.
I'm a developer with 30+ years of experience in Web2, gaming (Unity, Unreal), and Web3. With this background, I can quickly spot fake projects riding a hot narrative that will never deliver or that mislead investors about their business model.
Meme Coins vs. Big Projects – Who's the Real Scam?
The common belief is that meme coins are scams. While some are, others have better tokenomics and fundamentals than major Layer 1 projects. On the other hand, big funded projects aren’t necessarily more honest—their scams are just more sophisticated, preying on investors' lack of technical knowledge.
Most Common Crypto Scams & Red Flags
1️⃣ Coins promising cheaper services using their own token 🚩
Many projects claim that using their token will make their services cheaper (e.g., Filecoin, Render). Why is this a scam?
If the coin succeeds and its price rises, then the service becomes more expensive—making it worse than the competition.
This contradicts their entire business model, proving it's unsustainable.
2️⃣ DeFi protocols without 1:1 backing 💰💀
Many bridges and lending protocols use their own token as collateral—this is a disaster waiting to happen (e.g., Thorchain, Thorswap).
As long as the token holds value, the system works.
But if FUD spreads, a bank run will wipe out liquidity and make the protocol insolvent—there’s no safety net.
3️⃣ Gaming projects claiming to use AI agents 🎮🤖 (It’s a lie!)
It is technically impossible to have AI-powered NPCs in a game at scale (e.g., Astra Nova).
AI agents require 12GB+ of VRAM per instance—you cannot have hundreds running in a game.
Many GameFi projects slap "AI" on their marketing because investors don’t know better.
🔍 How to spot a fake GameFi project:
No shadows on characters (e.g., BigTime, Valhalla) = outdated pre-2000s tech
"Arcade games" = nobody cares about them
League of Legends clones = LoL is 15+ years old!
Claims of 80+ devs = At EUROTLX:4K + per dev, that’s $380K/month in salaries—do the math!
Legit Meme Coins Can Be Better Than "Big Projects"
Example: CRYPTOCAP:PEPE 🐸
Despite being a meme, CRYPTOCAP:PEPE has better tokenomics than most of the top 200 projects.
✔️ No staking = No inflation (fixed supply, no endless token dilution).
✔️ No central ownership = No rug pulls (tokens distributed to the community).
✔️ Strong market makers (e.g., Wintermute).
✔️ No fake narrative—it’s just a meme, no BS.
✔️ Huge liquidity & low slippage on major exchanges.
Final Thoughts
🚫 Don’t judge a project by its marketing—check its fundamentals!
✅ Avoid inflationary projects
✅ Avoid projects with too many insiders
✅ Avoid narrative-based scams that sell you fairy tales
💡 Hope you found this post insightful!
DYOR! 🧐
Leap Ahead with a Dynamic Setup: Trading with Andrew’s PitchforkThe Leap Trading Competition: A Chance to Trade Micro Euro Futures
TradingView’s "The Leap" Trading Competition provides an opportunity for traders to apply their futures trading strategies in a competitive environment. Participants can trade select CME Group futures contracts, including Micro Euro Futures (M6E).
This article presents a structured trade setup using Andrew’s Pitchfork, a technical tool that helps define potential trend direction and breakout levels. The setup involves two intersecting pitchforks near a key UFO support level, signaling the possibility of either an uptrend continuation or a confirmation of a new downtrend.
Understanding Andrew’s Pitchfork and Market Structure
Andrew’s Pitchfork is a technical analysis tool used to identify trend channels by plotting three parallel lines from a major price swing. The tool helps traders anticipate support, resistance, and breakout levels based on median lines.
In this setup, two pitchforks define opposing market structures. The green pitchfork represents an uptrend, suggesting that price could continue higher. The red pitchfork represents a developing downtrend, indicating a possible reversal. The intersection of these pitchforks at a key UFO support level marks an important decision point for the market.
The Dynamic Trade Setup: Long and Short Scenarios
In a long trade scenario, entry is confirmed if price breaks above the Upper Median Line (UML) of the red pitchfork. The target for the trade is the Median Line (ML) of the green pitchfork, representing trend continuation. A stop loss is placed below entry at a distance that ensures a minimum 3:1 reward-to-risk ratio.
In a short trade scenario, entry is confirmed if price breaks below the Lower Median Line (LML) of the green pitchfork. The target for the trade is the Median Line (ML) of the red pitchfork, confirming further downside movement. A stop loss is placed above entry at a distance that maintains a minimum 3:1 reward-to-risk ratio.
Because the UML, LML, and ML levels change dynamically with each bar, breakout levels and targets must be adjusted accordingly. If price remains inside the pitchfork structure, the setup remains neutral until confirmation occurs.
Contract Specifications and Margin Requirements
Euro FX Futures (6E) details:
Full contract specs: 6E Contract Specifications – CME Group
Contract size: €125,000
Tick size: 0.00005 per EUR/USD ($6.25 per tick)
Margin requirements depend on broker conditions and market volatility, currently around $2,600 per contract.
Micro EUR/USD Futures (M6E) details:
Full contract specs: M6E Contract Specifications – CME Group
Contract size: €12,500 (1/10th of 6E)
Tick size: 0.0001 per EUR/USD ($1.25 per tick)
Lower margin requirements provide access to traders with smaller accounts, currently around $260 per contract.
M6E offers a lower-cost alternative to 6E, making it a useful instrument for adjusting position sizes and managing risk effectively. Traders should consider market conditions and leverage when determining position sizes.
Execution and Trade Management
Before executing a trade, price must confirm a breakout by fully breaking above UML for long trades or below LML for short trades. Additional confirmation through volume trends, momentum indicators, or candlestick patterns may help validate the move.
If price does not confirm the breakout, the setup remains invalid. If price re-enters the pitchfork channel, traders should reassess market structure before taking a new position. Stop losses should be maintained at levels that align with a structured risk-reward plan.
Conclusion
Andrew’s Pitchfork provides a structured approach for trading trend continuation and reversals. This setup allows for both long and short breakout opportunities, depending on how price reacts at key pitchfork levels.
For traders in The Leap Trading Competition, this setup highlights the importance of disciplined execution, waiting for confirmation, and managing risk effectively when trading futures.
When charting futures, the data provided could be delayed. Traders working with the ticker symbols discussed in this idea may prefer to use CME Group real-time data plan on TradingView: www.tradingview.com - This consideration is particularly important for shorter-term traders, whereas it may be less critical for those focused on longer-term trading strategies.
General Disclaimer:
The trade ideas presented herein are solely for illustrative purposes forming a part of a case study intended to demonstrate key principles in risk management within the context of the specific market scenarios discussed. These ideas are not to be interpreted as investment recommendations or financial advice. They do not endorse or promote any specific trading strategies, financial products, or services. The information provided is based on data believed to be reliable; however, its accuracy or completeness cannot be guaranteed. Trading in financial markets involves risks, including the potential loss of principal. Each individual should conduct their own research and consult with professional financial advisors before making any investment decisions. The author or publisher of this content bears no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided or for any resultant financial or other losses.
The Crypto Market’s True PowerLet’s shift focus from price volatility to the foundational driver of crypto’s value: network effects. While traditional markets rely on centralized moats (e.g., Facebook’s user base, Visa’s payment rails), crypto’s network effects are decentralized, programmable, and inherently disruptive. This isn’t just theory, it’s a blueprint for identifying asymmetric opportunities.
The Strategic Depth of Network Effects:
- Bitcoin’s Security Flywheel: Metcalfe’s Law quantifies network value as the square of its users, but Bitcoin adds a critical layer: security. Each incremental miner strengthens its Proof-of-Work consensus, exponentially raising the cost of a 51% attack. This isn’t adoption, it’s antifragility.
- Ethereum’s Developer Ecosystem: Ethereum’s dominance isn’t rooted in first-mover advantage alone. Its network effect hinges on developer density. Every new dApp (Uniswap, Aave) attracts liquidity, users, and complementary protocols, creating a self-reinforcing ecosystem. Traditional platforms can’t replicate this composability.
The Uncharted Risk-Reward Dynamic:
- Forks as Network Experiments: Unlike closed systems, crypto’s open-source code allows forks (e.g., Ethereum Classic, Bitcoin Cash) to test value divergence. This isn’t fragmentation, it’s Darwinian market validation.
- Protocol Upgrades as Catalysts: Events like Ethereum’s Merge recalibrate incentives overnight. Leaders must monitor developer momentum and governance alignment; missteps here aren’t setbacks, they’re existential threats.
Why This Matters: Network effects in crypto aren’t linear, they’re recursive. Prioritize ecosystems where liquidity, developer activity, and user growth compound. These are the battlegrounds where 10x returns emerge.
🛠️ Interoperability: The Strategic Race to Unify Crypto’s Fragmented Landscape
The future of blockchain isn’t monocultural, it’s a multi-chain ecosystem. However, interoperability remains crypto’s Gordian Knot. Solving it isn’t technical minutiae; it’s a trillion-dollar opportunity.
The Strategic Challenge:
- Siloed Blockchains = Friction: Bridging assets between chains remains fraught with risk (e.g., Wormhole’s $320M exploit). This isn’t a UX problem, it’s a structural barrier to institutional adoption.
- The Stakes: Interoperability is TCP/IP for Web3. The protocol that standardizes cross-chain communication will capture the foundational layer of crypto’s value stack.
The Contenders:
- Polkadot’s Parachain Model: Auctioning blockchain “slots” to prioritize scalability and security.
- Cosmos’ IBC Protocol: Enabling sovereign chains to interoperate without sacrificing autonomy.
- Layer 2s as Mini-Ecosystems: Ethereum’s rollups (Arbitrum, Optimism) are scaling vertically, but horizontal integration remains unsolved.
The Emerging Frontier:
- Cross-Chain DAOs: Governance systems managing assets across Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche could redefine organizational infrastructure. This isn’t incremental, it’s revolutionary.
Strategic Insight: Interoperability isn’t a technical checkbox, it’s a power struggle for crypto’s architectural control. Bet on protocols with modular design, robust security audits, and developer traction.
⚖️ Regulatory Arbitrage: Navigating Crypto’s Geopolitical Chessboard
Regulation isn’t a compliance hurdle, it’s a strategic lever reshaping crypto’s geographic and economic frontiers.
The Global Divergence:
- U.S. Uncertainty: The SEC’s “regulation by enforcement” creates a chilling effect. Ripple’s case is precedent-setting: Is crypto a security, currency, or a new asset class? Clarity will unlock, or cripple, innovation.
- EU’s MiCA Framework: While providing regulatory certainty, its stringent stablecoin rules risk stifling DeFi’s permissionless ethos.
- Asia’s Pragmatism: Post-China ban, hubs like Singapore and Dubai are courting crypto enterprises, balancing innovation with oversight.
The Existential Threat: CBDCs
- Central Bank Digital Currencies (e.g., China’s digital yuan) aren’t just digitized fiat, they’re tools for surveillance and monetary control. Crypto’s response? Decentralized governance. Wyoming’s DAO LLC law and decentralized identity solutions (e.g., ENS) are early plays to codify self-sovereignty.
Why This Demands Attention: Regulatory outcomes will determine whether crypto remains a tool for individual empowerment or becomes an instrument of the legacy financial system.
💥 DeFi’s Silent Crisis: The Smart Contract Risk Mispricing
DeFi’s $50B+ ecosystem hinges on one assumption: smart contracts are secure. The data suggests otherwise.
The Reality:
- $1.5B Lost in 2023: Exploits like Euler Finance and Curve’s reentrancy hack highlight systemic fragility. Unlike TradFi, there’s no FDIC insurance, losses are final.
- The Institutional Barrier: Until smart contract risk is mitigated, pension funds and corporates will remain sidelined.
The Mitigation Race:
- Audits ≠ Safety: Firms like CertiK and OpenZeppelin provide baseline checks, but bugs persist.
- Insurance’s Scaling Problem: Nexus Mutual and Cover Protocol lack capacity to underwrite large-scale DeFi.
- Formal Verification: Projects like Chainlink’s Proof of Reserve and algorithmic audits (e.g., Certora) are emerging as non-negotiables for enterprise adoption.
Strategic Takeaway: DeFi’s next phase requires institutional-grade security infrastructure. Allocate capital to protocols prioritizing formal verification and real-time monitoring.
🔮 Quantum Computing: Crypto’s Unspoken Existential Risk
While markets obsess over Fed rates, a stealthier threat looms: quantum decryption.
The Threat Matrix:
- Breaking ECC: Quantum computers could crack Bitcoin’s elliptic-curve cryptography within a decade, exposing private keys.
- Response Timeline: Post-quantum algorithms (e.g., NIST’s Kyber) are in development, but blockchain migration will be chaotic.
The Strategic Play:
Ethereum’s quantum-resistant R&D and privacy chains (e.g., Monero, Zcash) are hedging this risk early. Projects ignoring quantum preparedness risk obsolescence.
Why This Can’t Be Ignored: Quantum risk isn’t hypothetical, it’s actuarial. Leaders must pressure-test portfolios against this scenario.
📊 Tokenomics: Engineering Incentives for Sustainable Growth
Tokenomics isn’t speculative jargon, it’s the economic backbone of crypto projects.
The Levers of Value:
- Supply Dynamics: Bitcoin’s halving cycle vs. Ethereum’s EIP-1559 burn, scarcity narratives matter.
- Governance Centralization: UNI and COMP holders wield power, but low voter turnout risks plutocracy.
- MEV’s Hidden Tax: Front-running bots extract SEED_TVCODER77_ETHBTCDATA:1B + annually from DeFi users. Solutions like Flashbots MEV-Share aim to democratize this value.
The Winning Formula:
Projects like Curve (veToken model) demonstrate how aligned incentives bootstrap liquidity. Conversely, misaligned tokenomics (e.g., Terra’s UST) trigger death spirals.
Strategic Imperative: Scrutinize token distribution, utility, and governance. Sustainable models prioritize long-term holders over mercenary capital.
🌍 Crypto’s Macro Thesis: Hedge Against Fiat Instability
Crypto’s correlation with equities is a red herring. Its true value emerges during systemic crises.
The Data-Driven Case:
- Geopolitical Hedging: Russia and Venezuela’s hyperinflation drove P2P Bitcoin adoption.
- Inflation Response: While BTC’s 2022 performance disappointed “digital gold” proponents, its 2023 rebound amid banking collapses (SVB, Credit Suisse) reaffirmed its safe-haven narrative.
The Long Game:
As central banks test CBDCs and fiscal instability grows, crypto’s role as a hedge against systemic trust erosion will intensify.
✍️ Crypto’s Core Thesis: A New Economic Primitive
Crypto isn’t an asset class, it’s a foundational shift in how value is created, governed, and exchanged.
The Vision:
- Programmable Money: Smart contracts automate value transfer (e.g., streaming salaries via Sablier).
- Decentralized Governance: DAOs like MakerDAO and Aragon are rewriting corporate playbooks.
The Reality Check:
Crypto is a mirror of human coordination, fraught with scams, inefficiencies, and brilliance. The winners will be those who harness its primitives to solve real-world problems, not speculate on narratives.
Final Note: Leaders who dismiss crypto as a speculative toy will miss the forest for the trees. This is the rebuild of the internet’s infrastructure, participation isn’t optional; it’s strategic.
Bullish & Bearish Reversal Divergence Trading in Forex🔍 Bullish & Bearish Reversal Divergence Trading in Forex: A Detailed Overview
Divergence is a powerful concept in technical analysis — it helps spot potential trend reversals and momentum shifts. Let’s dive into the details with clear strategies and some visual flair! 🚀
🧠 What is Divergence?
Divergence happens when price action and a technical indicator (like RSI, MACD, or Stochastic) move in opposite directions. This hints that the current trend is losing strength and a possible reversal is coming.
📈 Types of Divergence
🐂 Bullish Reversal Divergence (Buy Signal)
Price: Makes lower lows ⬇️
Indicator: Makes higher lows ⬆️
Meaning: Sellers are losing momentum; buyers might take over soon.
Signal: Potential uptrend reversal ahead.
🔑 Key Confirmation Tools:
Support zone bounce 🛑
Bullish candlestick patterns (Hammer, Engulfing) 🕯️
Increased buying volume 📊
💡 Example Setup:
RSI makes a higher low while price drops lower — prepare for a long (buy) position.
🐻 Bearish Reversal Divergence (Sell Signal)
Price: Makes higher highs ⬆️
Indicator: Makes lower highs ⬇️
Meaning: Buyers are losing strength; sellers could take control.
Signal: Potential downtrend reversal ahead.
🔑 Key Confirmation Tools:
Resistance zone rejection 🚧
Bearish candlestick patterns (Shooting Star, Engulfing) 🌑
Increased selling volume 📉
💡 Example Setup:
MACD makes a lower high while price pushes higher — prepare for a short (sell) position.
🛠️ Best Indicators for Divergence Trading
RSI (Relative Strength Index) – Tracks overbought/oversold conditions. 📊
MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) – Measures momentum shifts. 💥
Stochastic Oscillator – Identifies trend strength and reversals. 🎢
🎯 Divergence Trading Strategies
1️⃣ Classic Divergence Strategy
Spot bullish or bearish divergence. 🔍
Confirm with support/resistance levels. 🧱
Wait for a reversal candlestick pattern (like a Doji, Engulfing, or Pin Bar). 🕯️
Enter trade with a tight stop loss below support (for buys) or above resistance (for sells). 🎯
2️⃣ Divergence + Trendline Break Strategy
Draw a trendline following the current trend. 📐
Spot divergence as the trend loses strength. 🚨
Wait for a trendline breakout for extra confirmation. 💥
Enter trade on the break and retest of the trendline. 💯
3️⃣ Divergence + Moving Average Strategy
Spot divergence between price and indicator. 📉
Use a moving average (MA) like the 50 EMA or 200 EMA to confirm the trend shift. 📈
Buy when price crosses above the MA after bullish divergence. 💚
Sell when price crosses below the MA after bearish divergence. ❤️
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
🚫 Ignoring confirmation: Always wait for candle closes or breakouts.
🚫 Forcing divergence: Only trade when divergence is clear.
🚫 Skipping risk management: Use a stop loss and position sizing.
🚫 Overtrading small timeframes: Higher timeframes (4H, Daily) offer more reliable signals.
Knowledge is not enough to be a successful traderWhile having strong knowledge and an effective strategy is essential for success, they alone are not enough to become a profitable trader. It is important to integrate other key aspects, such as:
Risk Management
Capital Protection: Adopt strict risk management by using stop-loss orders and limiting your capital exposure on each trade.
Diversification: Spread your investments across multiple assets to reduce the impact of potential losses on any single position.
Emotional Mastery and Managing Greed
Stress Control: Remain calm in the face of market fluctuations to avoid impulsive decisions
Discipline: Stick to your trading plan even during periods of high volatility.
Managing Greed: Greed can lead to taking undue risks. It is crucial to remain objective and not be swayed by the lure of profit, which could compromise rigorous risk management.
Patience and Perseverance
Patience: Waiting for the right opportunities is essential. Rushing into trades can lead you to enter the market under unfavorable conditions.
Perseverance: Trading is a continuous learning process. Learn from your mistakes and persevere, even after losses, to adjust and improve your strategy.
Adaptability and Continuous Learning
Market Evolution: Market conditions are constantly changing. A profitable trader knows how to adjust their strategy based on new trends and information.
Feedback: Keeping a trading journal to analyze your performance, identify your mistakes, and progress over the long term is fundamental.
By combining these skills – strict risk management, emotional control (including managing greed), as well as patience and perseverance – you give yourself the best chance to achieve sustainable success in the financial markets.
MINDSET: Trading is The Only True Path to Financial FreedomFinancial freedom—it’s the goal everyone chases but few ever reach. The world sells you a million ways to get rich: grinding a 9-to-5, climbing the corporate ladder, starting a business, investing in real estate. But the truth? Trading is the only path that offers complete financial autonomy. No bosses, no employees, no overhead—just you, the markets, and the ability to scale your wealth indefinitely.
The Illusion of Traditional Wealth-Building
People spend decades in careers that leave them dependent on someone else’s paycheck. Even business owners and investors face external risks—regulations, economic downturns, and unpredictable market shifts that limit their control.
Trading, however, is a pure meritocracy. The market doesn’t care about your background, degrees, or connections. It rewards skill, discipline, and adaptability.
Why Trading Stands Alone
Unlimited Earning Potential – Unlike a job, where your salary is capped, trading offers the ability to scale indefinitely.
Complete Time Freedom – Once profitable, you decide when and how much you work. A few well-placed trades can replace weeks of grinding at a traditional job.
No Middlemen – You don’t need clients, customers, or employees. Your success is fully in your hands.
Geographical Independence – As long as you have an internet connection, you can trade from anywhere in the world.
The Harsh Reality: Trading Isn’t Easy
Now, let’s be real—most traders fail because they treat it like a lottery ticket instead of a skill.
They chase signals, blow accounts, and then blame the markets. But those who master the psychological and technical aspects of trading gain something no job or business can provide: total financial sovereignty.
Are You Ready to Take Control?
Trading is the only financial vehicle where you set the rules and have the power to create generational wealth—without relying on an employer, a system, or a customer base.
The real question is: Are you willing to put in the work to claim that freedom?
Let’s talk in the comments.
#TradingFreedom #NoMore9to5 #FinancialIndependence
THE FEAR IS REAL. MAKE USE OF IT FOR THE LONG TERM!Disclaimer: The following article is not investment advice. It is solely prepared for educational purposes, specifically regarding the Indian markets and aimed at people interested in long-term investments. The numbers mentioned reflect the data available at the time of writing.
Hello people,
We are witnessing significant movements in the Indian markets, with news of small-cap stocks entering a ‘bear market’, mid-caps falling nearly 16%, and the major index, NIFTY 50, down about 11% since September. This has led to a decline in SIPs (by 109%) and raised questions about the resilience of common Indian equity investors. SMID stocks have performed the worst since the Covid crash, and various narratives are circulating, such as ‘BUY THE DIPS’ and others equally discouraging equity investment altogether.
Regardless of these narratives, it is evident that during substantial declines or bear markets, even fundamentally strong stocks—those suitable for long-term investments—can be purchased at discounted prices. These are the stocks widely considered the right choice and can be made use of for this phase of the market according to proficient professionals. The question remains: which are they?
This article highlights a few of these stocks based on my analysis. I share them to raise awareness, especially for those looking for such opportunities, but I am NOT advising you to buy them. What makes this content relevant is that it comes from someone who has been monitoring the market out of initiative, from a genuine interest over the past 3-4 years. So let's begin.
My top pick stock ticking all the boxes is Mahanagar Gas . It has impressive financials and is a fundamentally strong mid-cap company. It's both a value stock and a good growth stock (two common investing styles are value investing and growth-based investing). The stock's P/E ratio is 12.6, indicating it might be undervalued. The current price is ₹1,343, and the intrinsic value (according to Screener) is ₹1,479. As a mid-cap stock, it holds significant growth potential with a medium risk level—lower than that of small caps. It’s currently priced at a 31% discount.
Next I see Indus towers . Again good fundamentally, making it a good pick for long-term investors. As a large-cap stock, its growth potential is less than mid or small caps, but it’s still solid and carries lower risk of all. Its P/E ratio is 9.18, indicating potential undervaluation. However, one downside is that although its debt-to-equity ratio is 0.75 (which is good), its enterprise value exceeds the market cap, possibly suggesting high debt or overvaluation (which I doubt). Additionally, promoter holdings have decreased by 3% in the last quarter.
Among the other options are Godawari Power and Andhra Petrochemicals . Godawari Power is a solid mid-cap stock, with one exception: its 10-year sales growth or compounded revenue growth does not exceed 10% over the last 10 years, a key criterion for long-term investments. However, its 7-year sales growth surpasses 10%, which is positive. With a P/E ratio of 14.5 and a 31% discount from its previous high, it seems undervalued and carries medium risk, with the potential for high growth.
Last option is Andhra petrochemicals which unlike the others on this list, is a small-cap stock, making it suitable for those with a high-risk appetite. It has strong fundamentals and meets all the criteria required for long-term investment. The current price of ₹58.7 is below its book value of ₹64.8, and the intrinsic value is ₹154, indicating an attractive investment. It’s also interesting to note that when the price-to-book ratio is below 1 (P/BV < 1), it’s often considered an amazing deal .But again, this is a small-cap stock, so proceed with caution.
Criteria Used
All the stocks listed here have passed my evaluation based on four key areas required for a growing business: profitability, liquidity, leverage, and operational efficiency. Other factors considered include undervaluation, debt-to-equity ratio, and so on.
Going forward, I am aware that there is a possibility of the markets falling further, which cannot be ignored. The narrative around March 20th and its significance in the market cycle is still present, and I would encourage caution. For those hesitant to invest now, I suggest keeping an eye on the charts. Wait for a solid bullish signal to appear, and confirm it with USOIL and USDINR charts. These are crucial for concluding about the trend of our markets.
Additionally, perform a reality check on your investments: assess where your money is allocated, determine reasonable conservative targets, and evaluate the time frame for returns, apart from the projections made by portfolio managers and fund managers and their years of experiences too. Stats such as NIFTY MIDCAP 100 index giving negative returns from 2008 to 2014, is evident by directly observing the charts itself.
I hope this information was valuable to you. Don't lose faith in the markets. Happy investing!
“Be fearful when others are greedy and be greedy only when others are fearful.” – Warren Buffet
Harsh Truth About Forex & Gold Trading: In Books VS In Reality
Most traders start their trading journey by studying theory first, reading books or taking video courses before putting these newfound skills into practice. But once they start trading on a real market, they quickly realize that things are not as straightforward as the books make them out to be.
In this educational article, we will take a critical look at the difference between theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
📍And first of all, do not get me wrong. I am not trying to imply that trading books or courses are bad.
Theoretical knowledge is essential for successful trading, and of course the books are the best source of that.
The problem is, however, that books can be misleading . The examples in books are always tailored. When the authors are looking for the examples of the patterns, of key levels, they are looking for the ideal cases.
📍The problem becomes even worse, when one start studying the trade examples in books. And of course, the authors choose the brilliant winning trades with huge take profits and tiny stop losses.
I guess you saw these pictures of "sniper" entry trades with 5/1 R/R.
The inexperienced trader may start thinking that the markets are perfect and act in total accordance with the books.
That all the trades that he will take will bring tremendous profits.
That the identified patterns will work exactly as it was described.
📍The harsh truth is that books and courses are simply the compositions of different examples, cases and market situations.
In reality, each and every trading setup is unique .
The reaction of the price to the same pattern will be always different .
Please, realize the fact that books are only good for acquiring the knowledge. But in order to survive on financial markets, you need the experience . And the experience will be gained only after studying thousands of real market examples in real time.
📍Here is the example of a double top pattern that we were trading with my students on AUDJPY.
In books, double tops are always perfect . Once the market breaks the neckline, the price retests that and then quickly drops.
So the one can set a tiny stop loss and a big take profit.
However, after a retest of a broken neckline, AUDJPY bounced and the market maker was stop hunting the newbies. Our stop loss was way above the head, and we managed to survive.
Even though the pattern triggered a bearish movement, the reaction of the market was far from perfect.
Be prepared, that the market will much different from what you see in the books.
Good luck to you!
❤️Please, support my work with like, thank you!❤️
How to Trade Gold Using COT Data📌 Step-by-Step Analysis & Prediction
1️⃣ How to Trade Gold Using COT Data
Scenario 1: Gold is Rising
Commercials are heavily short (84%) → They expect a potential pullback or reversal.
Institutions are long (84%) → This suggests strong bullish momentum.
Retail traders are long (68%) → This confirms that the public is following the uptrend.
🔹 Trading Strategy:
Look for resistance zones around $2,950 - $3,000 (historical key levels).
If commercials start reducing shorts, the uptrend may continue.
If commercials stay net short, expect profit-taking and a potential correction.
Best trade: Wait for bearish confirmation and short near resistance with a stop-loss above $3,050.
Scenario 2: Gold is Falling
Commercials are now long (16%) → They expect prices to recover.
Institutions are reducing longs (16%) → Hedge funds are exiting long positions.
Retail traders are still short (32%) → This suggests fear in the market.
🔹 Trading Strategy:
Look for support zones around $2,850 - $2,875.
If institutions start adding longs, this confirms a bottom formation.
Best trade: Look for bullish confirmation and buy at support, targeting $2,950+.
2️⃣ How to Trade USD Using COT Data
Scenario 3: USD is Rising
Commercials are short (77%) → They expect USD to weaken soon.
Institutions are long (73%) → They are driving the uptrend.
Retail traders are also long (52%) → Retail is following the institutions.
🔹 Trading Strategy:
If DXY is at resistance (105-106), expect a reversal.
Best trade: Wait for USD weakness confirmation and short the USD against strong currencies like EUR or JPY.
Scenario 4: USD is Falling
Commercials are long (23%) → They anticipate a USD recovery.
Institutions are reducing longs (27%) → Hedge funds are exiting bullish positions.
Retail traders are short (48%) → This suggests retail is bearish on USD.
🔹 Trading Strategy:
If DXY is near support (102-103), expect a USD bounce.
Best trade: Look for bullish confirmation and buy USD against weaker currencies (e.g., short EUR/USD).
🔵 Final Trading Plan
Check COT Data Every Friday → Look for shifts in institutional and commercial positions.
Confirm with Technical Analysis → Identify key support/resistance levels.
Use Sentiment as Confirmation → If retail is overly long/short, the reversal could be near.
Set Stop-Loss & Targets → Define clear exit points to protect capital.
Would you like a TradingView indicator to automate this COT-based analysis? 🚀
Closing Auctions: How Order Imbalances Shape Market Prices█ The Final 15 Minutes: How Closing Auctions Determine Market Pricing
Every trading day ends with one of the most crucial events in financial markets — the closing auction. While many traders focus on intraday price movements, understanding the dynamics of closing auctions can provide valuable insights and profitable trading opportunities.
█ What Are Closing Auctions?
Closing auctions are special trading sessions held at the end of the day across major and minor exchanges worldwide. They determine the official closing price of securities based on Market-on-Close (MOC) and Limit-on-Close (LOC) orders submitted before the market officially closes.
These auctions are essential because institutions, index funds, and ETFs use the closing price for portfolio valuation, index tracking, and arbitrage strategies. In recent years, closing auction volumes have surged, now accounting for about 11% of total daily trading volume.
█ Why Have Closing Auctions Grown in Importance?
The increasing popularity of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) is one major factor behind the growth of closing auctions. ETFs must ensure their prices align with the net asset value (NAV) of their holdings, and arbitrageurs use the closing auction to correct price imbalances.
Additionally, large institutional investors prefer closing auctions to execute substantial trades with minimal market impact. These factors have led to a rise in order imbalances — where buy and sell orders significantly diverge — during the closing session.
█ How Do Order Imbalances Affect Prices?
Studies have found that stocks with large order imbalances tend to experience price distortions in the last 15 minutes of trading. Stocks with high buy imbalances typically outperform those with high sell imbalances during this period. However, about 83% of this price impact reverses over the next three to five days, suggesting a short-term trading opportunity.
⚪ Example:
At 3:55 PM, the exchange releases imbalance data:
Buy Imbalance: +500,000 shares (demand is high)
Sell Imbalance: -200,000 shares (supply is lower)
Since there are more buy orders than sell orders, buyers are forced to increase their bid prices to get filled. As a result, the price moves up sharply, reflecting the strong demand.
This is exactly what we see in the chart—the buy-side midpoint jumps higher than the sell-side midpoint drops, confirming a buy-heavy imbalance in the closing auction.
█ A Profitable Trading Strategy Based on Order Imbalances
Based on historical data, traders can exploit these patterns using two different strategies:
⚪ Momentum Strategy (Short-Term): Buy stocks with the largest buy-side imbalances and short stocks with the largest sell-side imbalances 15 minutes before the market close. Close positions at the market close.
⚪ Reversal Strategy (Over Multiple Days): Do the opposite—short stocks with the highest buy imbalances and go long on stocks with the highest sell imbalances at the close, holding positions for about five days.
Backtests of this strategy show that the momentum approach can yield approximately 32 basis points per trade, translating to an annualized return of 80% when executed systematically. However, traders must account for transaction costs and slippage.
█ Real-World Example: NYSE Closing Auction Data for AAP (02/20/2025)
To better understand how closing auction imbalances impact price movements, let's analyze the NYSE imbalance data for AAP on February 20, 2025. The data provides three key insights:
Imbalance Trends: At 15:55 and 15:56, AAP had significant sell imbalances (-40,849 and -40,718, respectively). However, this shifted at 15:57, showing a smaller sell imbalance (-13,023), followed by a net buy imbalance at 15:58 (+11,403) and 15:59 (+6,764). The final imbalance before dissemination was -34,286.
Paired Quantity Increase: The paired quantity, representing executed trades, consistently increased from 258,135 at 15:55 to 311,382 by the final dissemination, indicating heightened auction activity as the market prepared to close.
Impact on Clearing Price: AAP's price began at $42.17 but surged to $44.66 by 15:58, aligning with buy imbalances. However, the price slightly retraced to $44.34 at final dissemination, reinforcing the tendency for short-term reversals after strong closing auction moves.
This example highlights how traders can monitor closing auction imbalance data to anticipate price behavior in the final minutes of trading. For a more interactive exploration, check out the NYSE’s Closing Auction Imbalance Analysis Tool.
█ What Does This Mean for Retail Traders?
Pay Attention to the Closing Session: Many traders overlook the last 15 minutes of the market, but this period offers crucial insights into order flows and institutional activity.
Watch for Order Imbalances: Exchanges like the NYSE release imbalance data at 3:45 PM, giving traders a window to react before the market close.
Avoid Chasing Closing Prices: Since price reversals are common, buying into a strong closing auction rally may lead to short-term losses.
Use Data & Tools to Your Advantage: Platforms like Polygon.io provide real-time and historical imbalance data, which can enhance trading decisions.
█ Key Takeaways
Closing auctions play a crucial role in determining end-of-day prices, affecting institutional strategies and index valuations.
Order imbalances in the last 15 minutes of trading can create short-term price distortions, often reversing in the following days.
Traders can capitalize on these imbalances using either a short-term momentum strategy or a multi-day reversal strategy.
Understanding and leveraging closing auction dynamics can provide a significant trading edge.
Closing auctions are more than just an end-of-day formality—they reveal important market sentiment and provide trading opportunities. Whether you are a day trader looking to capitalize on short-term price movements or a swing trader seeking to exploit reversals, understanding the role of order imbalances in closing auctions can give you an edge in the market. By incorporating these insights into your strategy, you can navigate the complexities of the market more effectively and make more informed trading decisions.
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Disclaimer
The content provided in my scripts, indicators, ideas, algorithms, and systems is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendations, or a solicitation to buy or sell any financial instruments. I will not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation any loss of profit, which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on such information.
All investments involve risk, and the past performance of a security, industry, sector, market, financial product, trading strategy, backtest, or individual's trading does not guarantee future results or returns. Investors are fully responsible for any investment decisions they make. Such decisions should be based solely on an evaluation of their financial circumstances, investment objectives, risk tolerance, and liquidity needs.
Shooting Star Pattern: Meaning and Trading RulesShooting Star Pattern: Meaning and Trading Rules
In the fast-paced world of trading, recognising key chart patterns is crucial for informed decision-making. One pattern that traders often look for is the shooting star trading pattern. This article will delve into what a shooting star pattern is, how to spot it on a chart, its associated trading strategies, and its distinctions from similar patterns.
What Is a Shooting Star?
A shooting star in trading is a bearish candlestick pattern that can signify a potential reversal of an uptrend. It consists of a single candlestick with the following characteristics:
- A small body that is located at the lower end of the candlestick.
- A long upper shadow that is at least twice the length of the candle's body.
- A short or nonexistent lower shadow.
The appearance of the setup suggests that the price opened near its low and rallied significantly during the trading session but ultimately closed near its opening price. This pattern indicates sellers regained control after a brief period of bullishness.
While the formation is considered more probable when it closes red, it’s possible to see a green shooting star. A green shooting star candlestick simply indicates that sellers weren’t able to push the price down quite as aggressively.
How Can You Trade the Shooting Star?
The shooting star trading strategy involves the following key points:
- Entry: After identifying the candle in the strong uptrend, consider entering a short position. To validate the pattern, you may wait for the next one or two candles to close below the shooting star.
- Take Profit: Although candlestick patterns don’t provide specific entry and exit points, you can use common technical analysis techniques. For example, you may set a take-profit level based on the support level, Fibonacci retracement level, or nearest swing lows.
- Stop Loss: You may want to protect your position with a stop-loss order. This is usually placed above the high price of the shooting star. This helps potentially limit losses if the pattern doesn't lead to a reversal.
Let's consider a live market example of a shooting star in the stock market to illustrate the concept. A trader analyses the Meta stock chart and spots a shooting star stock pattern after an extended uptrend. They wait for confirmation, i.e. for the next bar to close lower. Upon confirmation, they decide to enter a short trade, setting their take-profit target at a significant support level and placing a stop loss above the formation’s high.
How Traders Confirm the Shooting Star Signals
Confirming the shooting star pattern's reliability involves a multifaceted approach, adding robustness to your trading decisions. Traders look beyond the candlestick itself, integrating various technical analysis tools to validate signals.
Key confirmation methods include:
- Volume Analysis: A high trading volume accompanying the shooting star candlestick pattern can strengthen the signal, indicating that the reversal is supported by significant market participation.
- Subsequent Candles: Observing the next few candles for bearish confirmation is essential. A strong bearish candle following the shooting star suggests that sellers are gaining momentum.
- Technical Indicators: Indicators can offer confirmatory signals, particularly momentum indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Stochastic Oscillator. A moving average crossover can also add confluence.
- Support and Resistance Levels: The proximity of the shooting star to established resistance levels enhances its significance. A shooting star forming near a resistance zone often signals a strong reversal point.
- Above Swing High/Low: A shooting star pattern that breaks into the area just above a key high or low before reversing can signal a stop hunt/liquidity grab.
- Contextual Analysis: The broader market context, such as prevailing trends and economic news, can influence the pattern's effectiveness. Aligning the shooting star with broader market sentiment increases the pattern’s reliability.
Shooting Star and Other Candlestick Formations
Let's compare the shooting star with other patterns with which it is often confused.
Shooting Star vs Inverted Hammer
The shooting star and inverted hammer look similar – they have small bodies and long upper shadows. However, they differ in their implications. The former is a bearish reversal pattern found in uptrends, while the latter is a bullish reversal formation seen in downtrends.
Shooting Star vs Evening Star
Both formations signal an uptrend reversal; however, the shooting star is a single-candle setup, whereas the evening star consists of three candles, including a large bullish candle, a small-bodied candle, and a large bearish candle.
Shooting Star vs Gravestone Doji
The shooting star and gravestone doji are both bearish reversal patterns. The shooting star features a small body at the lower end of the candlestick with a long upper shadow, signifying a failed rally.
In contrast, the gravestone doji has no or a tiny real body, as the open and close prices are identical or nearly identical, with a long upper shadow and no lower shadow. The gravestone doji suggests strong indecision in the market, with buyers initially driving prices up but ultimately failing to maintain that momentum, which often signals a sharp reversal.
Shooting Star vs Hanging Man
The shooting star and hanging man also share similarities but differ in appearance and market positioning. The shooting star is a bearish pattern occurring after an uptrend, indicating a potential reversal as bears managed to pull the price down at the end of a trading session.
Conversely, the hanging man appears at the top of an uptrend as well but has a small body at the upper end and a long lower shadow, reflecting that sellers were able to push the price down significantly before buyers pulled it back up. The hanging man suggests that selling pressure is starting to outweigh buying interest.
Advantages and Limitations
This formation offers traders valuable insights, but it comes with its own set of advantages and limitations. Understanding these can help traders use the pattern more effectively within their strategies.
Advantages
- Early Reversal Signal: It provides an early indication of a potential trend reversal, allowing traders to prepare for or act on a change in market direction.
- Simplicity: The pattern is straightforward to identify, even for less experienced traders, making it an accessible tool for technical analysis.
- Versatility: It can be applied across various markets and timeframes, with traders often spotting the shooting star in forex, stock, and commodity markets as well as across both short-term and long-term charts.
Limitations
- False Signals: The pattern alone is not always reliable and can generate false signals, especially in volatile markets or when not used with other confirmation tools.
- Lack of Precision: It does not provide exact entry or exit points, requiring traders to rely on additional indicators or analysis to determine these.
- Dependency on Context: The effectiveness of the formation is highly dependent on the broader market context and trend strength, limiting its standalone use.
Final Thoughts
Understanding chart patterns like the shooting star is essential for making informed decisions in trading. Remember that while this formation can provide valuable insights, it is more effective in conjunction with other tools for signal confirmation. As a trader, staying informed about market developments and continuously honing your skills could be a key to effective trading in the dynamic trading environment. Open an FXOpen account today to trade in over 600 markets with tight spreads from 0.0 pips.
FAQ
Can Candlestick Patterns Be Time-Sensitive?
Yes, candlestick patterns vary depending on the timeframe. A shooting star on a 1-minute chart provides short-term signals, while a shooting star on a daily chart may signal a longer-term reversal. However, the choice of timeframe goes hand in hand with your market strategy and goals.
How to Improve Candlestick Pattern Recognition Skills?
Improving your candlestick pattern recognition skills requires practice and study. You can analyse historical charts, use trading simulators, read educational materials like those at FXOpen, and engage with experienced traders to gain insights and practical experience.
Why Are Candlestick Patterns Important in Trading?
Candlesticks visually represent price action and help traders identify potential trend reversals, continuations, and key support and resistance levels. They are valuable tools for technical analysis.
What Is the Meaning of a Shooting Star Pattern?
The shooting star pattern is a bearish reversal candlestick that forms after an uptrend. It signals a potential shift in market sentiment, where buyers initially drive the price higher, but sellers take over, pushing the price back down near its opening level.
Is a Shooting Star Candlestick Bullish?
No, a bullish shooting star does not exist. It is a bearish pattern, indicating that an uptrend may be losing momentum and that a reversal to the downside could be imminent. A similar bullish formation is the inverted hammer.
Is a Shooting Star a Doji?
A shooting star is not a doji. While both patterns can signal reversals, a doji has nearly identical opening and closing prices with no significant body, reflecting indecision, whereas a shooting star has a small body with a long upper shadow, indicating a failed rally.
How Can You Trade a Shooting Star Candle?
Trading this candle involves looking for confirmation of the reversal, such as a bearish candle following the pattern. Traders often set stop-loss orders above the shooting star's high and target profit levels near key support zones or previous lows.
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This article represents the opinion of the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand only. It is not to be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation with respect to products and services provided by the Companies operating under the FXOpen brand, nor is it to be considered financial advice.
To Short or Not to Short that is the question???Let me explain the risk-reward profiles for long and short positions:
Long Position:
When you buy an asset (go long), you purchase it hoping its value will increase
Maximum loss: Limited to your initial investment (if asset goes to $0)
For example, if you buy a stock at $100, your maximum loss is $100 per share
Maximum gain: Theoretically unlimited, as the asset's price can keep rising
If the stock goes to $200, $300, $1000+, your profit keeps growing
Short Position:
When you short an asset, you borrow and sell it, hoping to repurchase it cheaper later
Maximum gain: Limited to your initial sale price (if the asset goes to $0)
For example, if you short a stock at $100, your maximum gain is $100 per share
Maximum loss: Theoretically unlimited, as the asset's price can keep rising
If the stock rises to $200, you lose $100; at $300, you lose $200, and so on
The asymmetric risk-reward comes from math:
Long positions: Asset can't go below $0, but has no upper limit
Short positions: Can only profit until $0, but losses grow with each price increase
Shorting comes with several additional costs that make it more expensive than going long:
Borrowing Costs (Short Interest)
You must pay interest to borrow the shares you're shorting
Rates can range from very low (0.25%) to very high (50%+) annually for hard-to-borrow stocks
This cost reduces your profits or increases losses over time
Margin Requirements
Need to maintain a margin account with collateral
Higher margin requirements for short positions (typically 150% of position value)
Risk of margin calls if the position moves against you
Dividend Payments
Short sellers must pay any dividends to the lender of the shares
This is an additional cost that long position holders don't face
Can significantly impact profitability for high-dividend stocks
Stock Recall Risk
The lender can recall their shares at any time
This may force you to close your position at unfavorable prices
It is particularly risky during short squeezes
These costs mean that even if your directional view is correct, you might still lose money on a short position due to holding costs.
Asymmetrical Moves
"Markets take the stairs up but the elevator down"
The opposite happens more often!
During bubble collapses and market crashes:
Downside moves can be gradual as denial, hope, and orderly selling create a stepped decline
Some investors average down, providing temporary support
Circuit breakers and trading halts can slow dramatic falls
During upside rallies, especially
short squeezes:
Price can explode upward very rapidly as shorts rush to cover
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) creates buying panic
Margin calls force immediate buying
Limited available shares can cause bidding wars
Now let's evaluate the same thing for Options Trading:
in a hypothetical situation, a call option can theoretically move toward infinity, whereas a put option has a limited downside.
Here’s why:
A call option gives the holder the right to buy an asset at a fixed strike price. If the underlying asset’s price keeps rising indefinitely, the call option’s value also increases indefinitely. In theory, there's no upper limit to how high a stock price can go, meaning a call option's price can rise infinitely.
A put option , on the other hand, gives the holder the right to sell an asset at a fixed price. However, the lowest a stock can go is zero, which means the maximum intrinsic value of a put option is limited to its strike price. For example, if a put has a strike price of $100 and the stock price drops to $0, the put would be worth at most $100 per share. Unlike a call option, a put option has a finite maximum gain.
Thus, while a call option has unlimited upside, a put option is constrained by the fact that an asset’s price can only fall to zero.
The final Verdict:
Do not short PLTR or other bubbles, if you want to do so, at least buy Put options to limit your risk!
Diamond Pattern Trading: How to Spot and Trade This SignalSome patterns scream for attention, while others sneak up on traders who aren’t looking closely. The diamond pattern is one of those sneaky ones—a formation that hints at a brewing reversal but requires a sharp eye to catch. Let’s dive into what this pattern looks like, how it forms, and the best strategies for effectively trading diamond top patterns and diamond bottom patterns.
What Is a Diamond Pattern?
The diamond pattern is a reversal chart pattern that occurs after a strong trend, indicating a potential shift in market direction. It forms when price action expands and then contracts, creating a shape that resembles a diamond.
This pattern is rare compared to triangles or head and shoulders formations, but it often signals significant price moves when it appears. There are two types of diamond patterns:
Diamond Top Pattern – A 🐻 Reversal Pattern That Appears After an Uptrend.
Diamond Bottom Pattern – A 🐂 Reversal Pattern That Forms After a Downtrend.
These patterns can help traders identify potential turning points and prepare for a change in trend.
How to Identify a Diamond Pattern in Trading?
To spot a diamond pattern trading setup, look for the following characteristics:
Broadening Formation: The price action initially expands, creating higher highs and lower lows.
Narrowing Structure: After the expansion, the price contracts, forming lower highs and higher lows.
Symmetrical Shape: When trendlines are drawn connecting the highs and lows, they create a diamond shape.
Breakout Point: The pattern is confirmed when the price breaks out of the structure, either to the upside or downside.
While it might resemble a diamond quilt pattern or diamond tile pattern on the chart, the key difference is its role as a market reversal signal.
Diamond Top Pattern: Bearish Reversal
A diamond top pattern forms at the peak of an uptrend and signals that bullish momentum is weakening. Traders often look for a downside breakout to confirm the reversal.
How to Trade a Diamond Top Pattern:
Identify the diamond formation after a strong uptrend.
Wait for a breakout below the lower trendline with increased volume.
Enter a short position once the breakout is confirmed.
Set a stop-loss above the recent high.
Target price: Measure the height of the pattern and project it downward.
This pattern suggests buyers are losing control, and a downtrend will likely follow.
Diamond Bottom Pattern: Bullish Reversal
A diamond bottom pattern appears at the end of a downtrend, indicating a potential shift to bullish momentum.
How to Trade a Diamond Bottom Pattern:
Identify the diamond shape forming after a downtrend.
Wait for an upside breakout above the upper trendline with strong volume.
Enter a long position once the breakout is confirmed.
Set a stop-loss below the recent low.
Target price: Measure the pattern’s height and project it upward.
This pattern signals that selling pressure decreases, and buyers may take control.
Why the Diamond Pattern Is Important for Traders
Reliable Reversal Signal. The diamond pattern trading setup strongly indicates trend reversals.
Clear Entry and Exit Points. Well-defined breakout levels make risk management easier.
Works in Different Markets. Whether trading stocks, forex, or crypto, the diamond pattern remains effective.
Final Thoughts
The diamond pattern is a rare but powerful tool that can help traders confidently spot trend reversals. Whether you’re trading a diamond top pattern for bearish setups or a diamond bottom pattern for bullish breakouts, understanding this formation can give you an edge in the market.
So, traders, have you spotted a diamond pattern trading setup recently? Share your experiences and strategies in the comments!
Mastering Candlestick Patterns: Visual Guide for Traders
🔵 Introduction
Candlestick charts are among the most popular tools used by traders to analyze price movements. Each candlestick represents price action over a specific time period and provides valuable insights into market sentiment. By recognizing and understanding candlestick patterns, traders can anticipate potential price reversals or continuations, improving their trading decisions. This article explains the most common candlestick patterns with visual examples and practical Pine Script code for detection.
🔵 Anatomy of a Candlestick
Before diving into patterns, it's essential to understand the components of a candlestick:
Body: The area between the open and close prices.
Upper Wick (Shadow): The line above the body showing the highest price.
Lower Wick (Shadow): The line below the body showing the lowest price.
Color: Indicates whether the price closed higher (bullish) or lower (bearish) than it opened.
An illustrative image showing the anatomy of a candlestick.
🔵 Types of Candlestick Patterns
1. Reversal Patterns
Hammer and Hanging Man: These single-candle patterns signal potential reversals. A Hammer appears at the bottom of a downtrend, while a Hanging Man appears at the top of an uptrend.
Engulfing Patterns:
- Bullish Engulfing: A small bearish candle followed by a larger bullish candle engulfing the previous one.
- Bearish Engulfing: A small bullish candle followed by a larger bearish candle engulfing it.
Morning Star and Evening Star: These are three-candle reversal patterns that signal a shift in market direction.
Morning Star: Occurs at the bottom of a downtrend, indicating a potential bullish reversal. It consists of:
- A long bearish (red) candlestick showing strong selling pressure.
- A small-bodied candlestick (bullish or bearish) indicating indecision or a pause in selling. This candle often gaps down from the previous close.
- A long bullish (green) candlestick that closes well into the body of the first candle, confirming the reversal.
Evening Star: Appears at the top of an uptrend, signaling a potential bearish reversal. It consists of:
- A long bullish (green) candlestick showing strong buying pressure.
- A small-bodied candlestick (bullish or bearish) indicating indecision, often gapping up from the previous candle.
- A long bearish (red) candlestick that closes well into the body of the first candle, confirming the reversal.
2. Continuation Patterns
Doji Patterns: Candles with very small bodies, indicating market indecision. Variations include Long-Legged Doji, Dragonfly Doji, and Gravestone Doji.
Rising and Falling Three Methods: These are five-candle continuation patterns indicating the resumption of the prevailing trend after a brief consolidation.
Rising Three Methods: Occurs during an uptrend, signaling a continuation of bullish momentum. It consists of:
- A long bullish (green) candlestick showing strong buying pressure.
- Three (or more) small-bodied bearish (red) candlesticks that stay within the range of the first bullish candle, indicating a temporary pullback without breaking the overall uptrend.
- A final long bullish (green) candlestick that closes above the high of the first candle, confirming the continuation of the uptrend.
Falling Three Methods: Appears during a downtrend, indicating a continuation of bearish momentum. It consists of:
- A long bearish (red) candlestick showing strong selling pressure.
- Three (or more) small-bodied bullish (green) candlesticks contained within the range of the first bearish candle, reflecting a weak upward retracement.
- A final long bearish (red) candlestick that closes below the low of the first candle, confirming the continuation of the downtrend.
🔵 Coding Candlestick Pattern Detection in Pine Script
Detecting patterns programmatically can improve trading strategies. Below are Pine Script examples for detecting common patterns.
Hammer Detection Code
//@version=6
indicator("Hammer Pattern Detector", overlay=true)
body = abs(close - open)
upper_wick = high - math.max(close, open)
lower_wick = math.min(close, open) - low
is_hammer = lower_wick > 2 * body and upper_wick < body
plotshape(is_hammer, title="Hammer", style=shape.triangleup, location=location.belowbar, color=color.green, size=size.small)
Bullish Engulfing Detection Code
//@version=6
indicator("Bullish Engulfing Detector", overlay=true)
bullish_engulfing = close < open and close > open and close > open and open < close
plotshape(bullish_engulfing, title="Bullish Engulfing", style=shape.arrowup, location=location.belowbar, color=color.blue, size=size.small)
🔵 Practical Applications
Trend Reversal Identification: Use reversal patterns to anticipate changes in market direction.
Confirmation Signals: Combine candlestick patterns with indicators like RSI or Moving Averages for stronger signals.
Risk Management: Employ patterns to set stop-loss and take-profit levels.
🔵 Conclusion
Candlestick patterns are powerful tools that provide insights into market sentiment and potential price movements. By combining visual recognition with automated detection using Pine Script, traders can enhance their decision-making process. Practice spotting these patterns in real-time charts and backtest their effectiveness to build confidence in your trading strategy.
Trading with multiple VAMAsI want to show you how to analyse multiple timeframe VAMAs for trading opportunities. This is an interesting approach that can reveal valuable market structure information.
For this example I am using a 15m, 1h and. 4h VAMA, but you can use this on lower or higher timeframes as well. First, let's understand what each timeframe VAMA represent in this case:
The 15-minute VAMA indicates short-term trends and momentum
The 1-hour VAMA reveals intermediate trend direction
The 4-hour VAMA represents the broader market structure
When these VAMAs overlap on your lower timeframe chart (15m in this case), they create what we might call "zones of interest." Think of it like layers of support and resistance that have different degrees of significance based on their timeframe. Here's how we can interpret and use this information:
Convergence Zones
When multiple VAMAs cluster in a tight price range, this creates a significant zone of interest. For example, if your 15-minute, 1-hour, and 4-hour VAMAs are all within a narrow price band, this often indicates a strong support or resistance level. These zones typically exhibit one of two behaviors:
Price Bounces:
When price approaches a convergence zone from above or below, it often respects these levels. The more timeframes that have converged, the stronger the zone becomes. A bounce from such a zone with corresponding volume can present a high-probability trade opportunity.
Zone Breaks:
If price successfully breaks through a convergence zone, especially with increased volume, this often signals a strong trend continuation or reversal, depending on the direction of the break.
Hierarchical Trending
You can identify the strength and maturity of trends by examining how the different timeframe VAMAs are arranged:
Strong Uptrend Structure:
4H VAMA lowest
1H VAMA above 4H
15min VAMA above 1H
This "stacking" of VAMAs shows a healthy trend structure. The higher timeframe VAMAs act as dynamic support levels in an uptrend (or resistance in a downtrend).
Trade Entry Opportunities
Alignment Trades:
Look for moments when all VAMAs are pointing in the same direction and properly stacked. These situations often present high probability setups. For example: In an uptrend Price pulls back to test the 15-minute VAMA while the 1H and 4H VAMAs continue trending up.This creates a "buy the dip" opportunity with multiple timeframe confirmation.
Divergent Zone Trades:
When the faster VAMAs (1min, 15min) show divergence from the slower ones (1H, 4H), this can indicate potential reversal points: If the 1min and 15min VAMAs start curling up while price is testing the 1H VAMA as support. This divergence in shorter timeframes while respecting longer timeframe support can signal a reversal opportunity.
Breakout Confirmation:
Use the multiple timeframes to confirm breakout trades:
When price breaks above a convergence zone
Look for the faster VAMAs (1min, 15min) to cross above the slower ones
Volume should increase during the break
The previous resistance zone (marked by the VAMAs) should become support
Adverse excursion: a key concept for risk managementAs a professional trader, I can tell you about the adverse excursion and its crucial importance in the world of trading.
Adverse excursion: a key concept for risk management
Adverse excursion refers to the unfavorable movement of the price of an asset after a position is opened. More precisely, it is the difference between the entry price and the worst point the price reaches before the position becomes profitable again or is closed.
Maximum Adverse Excursion (MAE)
The concept of Maximum Adverse Excursion (MAE), developed by John Sweeney, is particularly useful. It measures the maximum floating loss suffered by a position before it turns in your favor or is closed. The MAE is a powerful statistical tool for analyzing drawdowns in an open position.
Trading Efficiency
Using MAE has several benefits for traders:
Optimizing Stop-Loss: By analyzing MAE over a series of trades, the optimal level for placing stop-loss orders can be statistically determined.
Evaluating Trading Systems: MAE helps evaluate the performance of trading systems and identify areas for improvement.
Refining Risk Management Strategies: By understanding the maximum adverse moves, traders can refine their strategies to better preserve their capital.
Improving Trading Efficiency: MAE analysis can help improve decision-making and execute trades with greater accuracy and confidence.
Practical Application
To effectively use the concept of adverse excursion, it is crucial to collect data on a large number of trades. For example, if you observe a series of MAEs like this: 15, 23, 18, 16, 0, 11, 31, 17, 8, 0, 19, 26, 0, 38, 22, you can deduce valuable information about the behavior of your trades and adjust your stop-loss levels accordingly.
In conclusion, the adverse excursion and especially the MAE are powerful tools for any serious trader. They allow to optimize risk management, improve the performance of strategies and make more informed decisions. As they say in the trade, "who controls his risks, controls his profits".
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Using the Maximum Adverse Excursion (MAE) has several significant advantages over traditional stop-loss placement methods:
Data-driven optimization
The MAE allows for a more precise and data-driven approach to stop-loss placement:
Statistical analysis: By examining the distribution of the MAE over a large number of trades, the optimal level for placing stop-loss orders can be statistically determined.
Performance visualization: The graphical representation of the MAE provides a clear overview of trade performance, allowing the most effective stop-loss levels to be visually identified.
Balancing protection and performance
The MAE helps to find an optimal balance between capital protection and trading performance:
Retention of winning trades: The stop-loss can be placed to retain 75-85% of winning trades, thus avoiding prematurely cutting potentially profitable positions.
Elimination of large losses: At the same time, this approach eliminates trades that suffer large losses, thus protecting capital.
Adaptation to the specific strategy
The MAE adapts to the unique characteristics of each trading strategy:
Customization: Unlike generic methods, the MAE takes into account the specific behavior of the trades of a given strategy.
Flexibility: This approach can be applied to a variety of strategies, whether short-term trading, swing trading, or long-term positions3.
Improved risk management
Using the MAE contributes to better overall risk management:
Deep understanding: The MAE provides a more nuanced understanding of how trades evolve, allowing for better risk assessment.
Reduced stress: By having a solid basis for placing stop-losses, traders can reduce the stress associated with real-time decision-making.
Complementarity with other tools
The MAE can be used in conjunction with other techniques:
Combination with the MFE: The analysis of the Maximum Favorable Excursion (MFE) in parallel can help to optimize not only the stop-losses, but also the profit-taking.
Cross-validation: The results obtained by the MAE analysis can be compared with those of traditional parameter optimization methods for greater confidence in the strategy.
Fair Value Gaps (FVGs) – A Complete GuideWhat Are Fair Value Gaps (FVGs)?
A Fair Value Gap (FVG) is a price imbalance on a chart that occurs when the market moves aggressively in one direction, leaving an area where price did not trade efficiently. These gaps are often created by institutional traders (banks, hedge funds, and large market participants) executing big orders.
Key Characteristics of a FVG:
✅ Occurs when price moves impulsively, creating an imbalance
✅ Appears in a three-candle formation
✅ The gap forms between the wicks of the first and third candles
How to Identify a FVG:
1️⃣ Look for a strong price move (bullish or bearish).
2️⃣ Find a three-candle sequence where the middle candle has a large body and a gap between the first and third candle wicks.
3️⃣ Mark the area between the first and third candle wicks—this is your Fair Value Gap.
Example:
Imagine price explodes upward with a big green candle, skipping multiple price levels without much resistance. This creates an inefficiency because price hasn’t traded fairly in that area, making it likely that price will revisit it later to fill the imbalance.
Here you can see that price completely filled up that gap and moved higher.
Same here:
How to Use Fair Value Gaps in Trading
FVGs can serve as key zones where price is likely to react. Here’s how you can use them to improve your trading:
1️⃣ Fair Value Gaps as Support & Resistance
Bullish FVG (Support Zone):
If price retraces into a bullish FVG (gap formed in an uptrend), it can act as support and push price higher.
This is a good area to look for buying opportunities.
Bearish FVG (Resistance Zone):
If price retraces into a bearish FVG (gap formed in a downtrend), it can act as resistance and push price lower.
This is a good area to look for selling opportunities.
2️⃣ Using FVGs for Trade Entries & Exits
Price often revisits a Fair Value Gap before continuing its original trend.
A trader can wait for price to fill the gap and then look for confirmations like candlestick patterns or volume spikes before entering a trade.
Stop-loss placement: Put your stop-loss below/above the FVG zone to reduce risk.
3️⃣ Liquidity & Institutional Activity
Institutional traders often target these inefficiencies to fill their orders.
When price returns to an FVG, it may be because institutions are executing trades at those levels.
Why Are Fair Value Gaps Useful?
They act as magnets for price – Price tends to revisit these gaps before continuing its move.
They provide high-probability trade setups – FVGs help traders find potential reversal or continuation zones.
They improve risk management – You can use them for better stop-loss placement.
They align with Smart Money Concepts (SMC) – Institutions often use these levels for liquidity.
Tips & Tricks: How to Combine Fair Value Gaps with Other Strategies
1️⃣ FVG + Order Blocks = Strong Confirmation
If a Fair Value Gap aligns with an Order Block, it becomes a powerful area of interest.
This increases the chances of a successful trade.
2️⃣ FVG + Fibonacci Retracements
If an FVG aligns with a key Fibonacci level (like 61.8% or 50%), the chances of a price reaction increase significantly.
3️⃣ FVG + RSI or Divergence
If price revisits a FVG while RSI is overbought or oversold, it signals a high-probability reversal.
4️⃣ Higher Timeframe FVGs Are More Reliable
FVGs on the 1-hour, 4-hour, or daily charts are more effective than those on smaller timeframes.
5️⃣ Monitor News Events
If an FVG is formed due to a major news event (e.g., Fed announcement, CPI data, earnings report), be cautious, as price may act differently than expected.
Final Thoughts
Fair Value Gaps are a powerful tool that help traders identify key levels of liquidity and institutional price action. They work best when combined with other strategies like Order Blocks, Fibonacci, and RSI to increase accuracy.
By understanding how and why price moves back into these gaps, traders can anticipate potential high-probability trade setups and trade alongside smart money.
__________________________________________
Thanks for your support!
If you found this idea helpful or learned something new, drop a like 👍 and leave a comment—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 🚀
Make sure to follow me for more price action insights, free indicators, and trading strategies. Let’s grow and trade smarter together! 📈✨
Understanding ICT’s Framework for Price Delivery | Smart Money 📊 In this video, we break down ICT’s framework for price delivery, explaining how smart money moves price efficiently through liquidity pools and imbalance zones. We cover:
✅ Market structure & liquidity
✅ How price seeks inefficiencies (FVGs & Imbalances)
✅ The role of algorithmic price delivery
✅ How to anticipate price movement using ICT concepts
🔔 Subscribe for more ICT-based analysis!
#ICTTrading #SmartMoneyConcepts #ForexTrading #PriceDelivery
#ICT #Forex #SmartMoneyConcepts #PriceAction #MarketStructure #OrderFlow #Liquidity #TraderMindset #5minwithfriday
How Do Traders Spot and Use the Dragonfly Doji CandlestickHow Do Traders Spot and Use the Dragonfly Doji Candlestick Pattern?
The dragonfly doji candlestick pattern holds intrigue and fascination for traders in financial markets. Its distinct shape and positioning on price charts make it a keen subject for observation and analysis. In this article, we will explore this setup, its significance, and how traders use it in their trading strategies.
What Does a Dragonfly Doji Mean?
The red or green dragonfly doji is a candlestick pattern that forms when the opening, closing, and high prices of an asset are equal or almost equal. This formation resembles the shape of a dragonfly because it has an extended lower shadow. It provides bullish signals and is considered a neutral pattern as it provides continuation and reversal signals, depending on its context within a trend. The meaning of a dragonfly doji is that there is uncertainty in the market, and traders are prompted to carefully analyse other factors before making trading decisions.
Traders may find the dragonfly doji pattern on charts of different financial instruments, such as currencies, stocks, cryptocurrencies*, ETFs, and indices, regardless of the timeframe. Test this pattern on various assets with FXOpen’s TickTrader platform.
The Psychology Behind the Dragonfly Doji
The dragonfly doji candle pattern reflects a tug-of-war between buyers and sellers, where neither side gains a decisive advantage. Its formation indicates that sellers initially push prices lower, but buyers step in to push prices back up to the opening level. This results in the distinct long lower shadow and minimal upper shadow.
The psychological meaning of the dragonfly candlestick pattern is significant; it shows that despite bearish pressure, buyers are strong enough to regain control by the close. It signals indecision, highlighting the need for traders to carefully evaluate other indicators and the broader trend before making trading decisions.
How Can You Trade the Dragonfly Doji?
The bullish dragonfly doji provides valuable information about market sentiment. Here are two scenarios where this formation can be significant:
The Dragonfly Doji in an Uptrend
In a bullish trend, the dragonfly doji is generally seen as a continuation signal. This is because, despite sellers attempting to push the price lower, buyers remain active and prevent a significant decline. However, it is worth noting that the inability of buyers to push the price above its open level may indicate a potential weakening of bullish momentum. Traders may consider entering the trade above the open/close of the doji’s candle or if the proceeding bar closes above the doji’s open/close. The stop-loss level may be placed below the candlesticks, while the take-profit target may be set at the nearest resistance level.
In the chart above, the pattern formed in an uptrend, and the trader placed a long trade on the next bar. The stop loss was set below the candle, with the take profit at the closest resistance level.
Dragonfly Doji in a Downtrend
The dragonfly doji in bearish trends may suggest a possible upward reversal. The long lower shadow indicates that buyers entered the market, pushing the price up from its lows. This could be seen as a signal to consider going long or watching for a further bullish confirmation before taking action. Traders may place a stop loss below the candle with a take profit at the closest resistance level or may consider the appropriate risk/reward ratio.
The candle at the end of a downtrend signals a price reversal. The trader placed a buy order at the high of the doji with a stop-loss level below it. The take profit is calculated based on the risk/reward ratio.
Traders can enhance their trading strategies by utilising the free TickTrader trading platform.
How Can You Confirm the Dragonfly Doji?
Confirming the dragonfly doji may increase the reliability of trading decisions. Here are key factors to consider:
- Volume Analysis: High trading volume during the formation of a dragonfly candle may indicate stronger market sentiment and increase the likelihood of a significant move.
- Subsequent Candlesticks: Traders look for a bullish candlestick following the dragonfly candlestick. This reinforces the potential for a trend reversal or continuation.
- Support and Resistance Levels: A formation occurring near significant support levels can strengthen its validity as a potential reversal signal.
- Technical Indicators: To gauge momentum and confirm signals, traders often complement the analysis with indicators like the Relative Strength Index (RSI), moving averages, and Bollinger Bands.
- Market Context: It’s best to evaluate the broader market trend and news that may impact market sentiment to provide a clearer picture of its implications.
Dragonfly and Other Patterns
Dragonfly doji, gravestone doji, spinning top, and long-legged doji are all types of candlestick patterns commonly used in technical analysis to indicate potential reversals or indecision in the market. Traders often pay close attention to them when making trading decisions.
Dragonfly Doji vs Gravestone Doji
While the dragonfly doji has a long lower shadow and little or non-existent upper one, the gravestone or inverted dragonfly doji has a long upper wick and little or non-existent lower one. Both patterns indicate indecision, but the dragonfly provides bullish signals, whereas the gravestone indicates potential bearish reversals.
Dragonfly Doji vs Long-Legged Doji
The dragonfly has a long lower shadow with little to no upper shadow, indicating a potential bullish reversal. In contrast, the long-legged version has long upper and lower shadows, reflecting significant indecision and equal pressure from buyers and sellers without a clear directional bias.
Dragonfly Doji vs Hammer
The dragonfly and the hammer both signal potential bullish reversals, but they differ in appearance and context. The dragonfly has no upper shadow, but it has a very small body and an extended lower shadow, while the hammer has a body at the top of the candlestick and a long lower shadow. The hammer typically appears after a downtrend, signalling a reversal, while the dragonfly doji appears in uptrends and downtrends.
Limitations of the Dragonfly Doji
While the dragonfly doji is a valuable candlestick formation for traders, it is not without its limitations. Recognising these constraints can help them understand how to use it most effectively.
- False Signals: The dragonfly sometimes produces false signals, leading traders to anticipate reversals that do not materialise.
- Market Context: Its effectiveness is heavily influenced by the broader market context. It may not be reliable in all situations, particularly in choppy or sideways assets.
- Confirmation Needed: Additional indicators or subsequent price action are usually required to confirm the pattern, as relying solely on its appearance can be risky.
- Limited Power: It does not provide information on the magnitude of the subsequent price movement, making it challenging to set precise profit targets.
Closing Thoughts
Candlestick patterns should not be relied upon as the sole factor in trading decisions. It is essential to perform a comprehensive analysis and implement robust risk management strategies before making any trades. Once you are confident in your analysis, consider opening an FXOpen account to take advantage of spreads as tight as 0.0 pips and commissions starting at just $1.50.
FAQ
What Does Doji Candle Mean?
A doji candle represents a session where the opening and closing prices are almost equal, indicating market indecision. It suggests neither buyers nor sellers are in control, resulting in a standoff. Doji candles can take various forms, including dragonfly, gravestone, and long-legged, each with unique implications.
What Does a Dragonfly Doji Indicate?
A dragonfly doji indicates indecision and potential trend reversal. It forms when the open, high, and close prices are near the same level but it has a long lower shadow. This formation suggests buyers counteracted initial selling pressure, signalling a possible bullish shift.
Is the Dragonfly Doji Bullish or Bearish?
The dragonfly is generally considered bullish, especially after a downtrend. Its formation indicates buyers pushed prices back to the opening level, potentially leading to a price increase.
What Is the Opposite of the Dragonfly Doji?
The opposite of the dragonfly doji is the gravestone doji. The dragonfly has a long lower shadow and little to no upper shadow, while the gravestone features a long upper shadow and minimal lower shadow, indicating a potential bearish reversal.
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The Inside Out InvestorThere is a common misconception that investing in stocks is always stressful and emotionally overwhelming. Many people think that this activity is only available to extremely resilient people or crazy people. In fact, if you know the answers to three key questions, investing becomes a rather boring activity. Let me remind you of them below:
1. Which stocks to choose?
2. At what price should the trade be made?
3. In what volume?
As for me, most of the time, I'm just in waiting mode. First, I wait for the company's business to start showing sustainable growth dynamics in profits and other fundamental indicators. Then, I wait for a sell-off of strong company shares at unreasonably low prices. Of course, this requires a lot of patience and a positive outlook on the future. That's why I believe that being young is one of the key advantages of being a beginner investor. The younger you are, the more time you have to wait.
However, we still have to get to this boring state. And if you've embarked on this long journey, expect to encounter many emotions that will test your strength. To help me understand them, I came up with the following map.
Next I will comment on each of its elements from left to right.
Free Cash horizontal line (from 0% to 100%) - X axis
When you first open and fund a brokerage account, your Free Cash is equal to 100% of the account. Then it will gradually decrease as you buy shares. If Free Cash is 0%, then all your money in the account was invested in shares. In short, it is a scale of how much your portfolio is loaded with stocks.
Vertical line Alpha - Y axis
Alpha is the ratio of the change in your portfolio to the change in an alternative portfolio that you do not own but use as a reference (in other words, a benchmark). For example, such a benchmark could be an ETF (exchange-traded fund) on the S&P500 index if you invest in wide US market stocks. Buying an ETF does not require any effort on your part as a manager, so it is useful to compare the performance of such an asset with the performance of your portfolio and calculate Alpha. In this example, it is the ratio of your portfolio's return to the return of the S&P 500 ETF. At the level where Alpha is zero, there is a horizontal Free Cash line. Above this line is positive Alpha (in which case you are outperforming the broader market), below zero is negative Alpha (in which case your portfolio is outperforming the benchmark). Let me clarify that the portfolio yield includes the financial result for both open and closed positions.
Fear of the button
This is the emotion that blocks the sending of an order to buy shares. Being captivated by this emotion, you will be afraid to press this button, realizing that investing in shares does not guarantee a positive result at all. In other words, you may lose some of your money irretrievably. This fear is absolutely justified. If you feel this way, consider the size of your stock investment account and the percentage amount you are willing to lose. Remember to diversify your portfolio. If you can't find a balance between account size, acceptable loss, and diversification, don't press the button. Come back to her when you're ready.
Enthusiasm
At this stage, you have a high share of Free Cash, and you also have your first open positions in stocks. Your Alpha is positive. You are not afraid to press the button, but there is a certain excitement about the future result. The state of enthusiasm is quite fragile and can quickly turn into a state of FOMO if Alpha moves into the negative zone. Therefore, it is critical to continue learning the chosen strategy at this stage. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
FOMO
FOMO is a common acronym used to describe a psychological condition known as fear of missing out. In the stock market, this manifests itself as fear of missing out. This condition is typical for a portfolio with a high proportion of Free Cash and negative Alpha. As the benchmark's return outpaces your portfolio's return, you will be in a nervous state. The main worry will be that you didn't buy the stocks that are currently the growth leaders. You will be tempted to deviate from your chosen strategy and take a chance on buying something on the off chance. To get rid of this condition, you need to understand that the stock market has existed for hundreds of years, and thousands of companies trade on it. Every year, new companies emerge, as well as new investment opportunities. Remind yourself that you are not here for one million dollar deal, but for systematic work with opportunities that will always be there.
Zen
The most desirable state of an investor is when he understands all the details of the chosen strategy and has effective experience in its application. This is expressed in positive Alpha and excellent mood. Taking the time to manage your portfolio, developing habits and a disciplined approach will bring satisfaction and the feeling that you are on the right track. At this stage, it is important to maintain this state, and not to chase after thrills.
Disappointment
This stage is a mirror of the Zen state. It can develop from the FOMO stage, especially if you break your own rules and invest on luck. It can also be caused by a sharp deterioration in the condition of a portfolio, which was doing well in the Zen state. If everything is clear in the first case, and you just need to stop acting weird , then in the second situation you should remember why you ended up in a state of Zen. Investments are always a series of profitable and unprofitable trades. However, losing trades cannot be considered a failure if they were made in accordance with the principles of the chosen strategy. Just keep following the accepted rules to win in the long run. Also remember that Mr. Market is crazy enough to offer prices that seem absurd to you. Yes, this can negatively affect your Alpha, but at the same time provide opportunities to open new positions according to the chosen strategy.
Euphoria
Another way out of the Zen state is called Euphoria. This is typical dizziness from success. At this stage you have little Free Cash, a large share of stocks in your portfolio and phenomenally positive Alpha. You feel like a king and lose your composure. That is why this stage is marked in red. In a state of euphoria, you may feel like everything you touch turns to gold. You feel the desire to take a risk and play for luck. You don't want to close positions with good profits. Furthermore, you think you can close at the highs and make even more money. You are deviating from the chosen strategy, which is fraught with major negative consequences. It only takes a few non-systemic decisions to push your Alpha into the negative zone and find yourself in a state of disappointment. If your ego doesn't stop there, the decline may continue.
Tilt
A prolonged state of disappointment or a rapid fall of Alpha from the Euphoria stage can lead to the most negative psycho-emotional state called Tilt. This term is widely used in the game of poker, but can also be used in investments. While in this state, the investor does everything out of strategy, his actions are chaotic and in many ways aggressive. He thinks the stock market owes him something. The investor cannot stop his irrational actions, trying to regain his former success or get out of a series of failures in the shortest possible time. This usually ends in big losses. It is better to inform your loved ones in advance that such a condition exists. Don't be embarrassed by this, even if you think you are immune to such situations. A person in a state of tilt withdraws into himself and acts in a state of affect. Therefore, it is significant to bring him out of this state and show that the outside world exists and has its own unique value.
Now let's talk about your expectations, as they largely determine your attitude towards investing. Never turn your positive expectations into a benchmark. The stock market is an element that is absolutely indifferent to our forecasts. Even strong companies can fall in price if there is a shortage of liquidity in the market. In times of crisis, everyone suffers, but the most prepared suffer the least. Therefore, the main task of a smart investor is to work on himself until the moment he presses the coveted button. There will always be a chance to do this. As I said, the market will not disappear tomorrow. But to use this chance wisely, you need to be prepared. This means that you should have an answer to all three questions above. Then you will definitely catch your Zen.